Today's preaching was awesome. Somehow when pastor Jo preach, it always kept me at the edge of my seat and time seems to stand still. I am not exaggerating. I was really engrossed in today's sermon.

His style of unrivalling the truth of the Word of God to make it understandable, get the big picture and then help you make sense out of it - makes it easier to apply. It is sort of letting the Word speak for itself, instead of adding too many other things to make it "look cool". The Word is already good, we don't have to make it better, just explain it out.

Today's sermon was about Nehemiah 2:1-11
How Nehemiah turned his burden into action. He was burdened for the ruins of Jerusalem, he fasted and wept but that still bothered after months. Then he was sad in the King's presence and he took the right opportunity to act courageously. The fact was that he waited for the right opportunity to act instead of rush into things. This principle of waiting for God's right timing is very important.

People who wants to change things may have the impulse to act. They are acting with passion. But people who succeeded in bringing glory to God such as Queen Esther, Nehemiah, Paul and Jesus waited for the right opportunity.

Being rash is a sin and a foolish thing though there will be situations when we FEEL so much to act. Being able to hold up is wisdom. Pastor Jo gave the example of how Jesus maximised the glory unto God by delaying to go to Lazarus even when he was seriously ill. He waited till he was dead then he went! He knew what God had in mind (this is not to say that we delay helping people).

Esther too, waited for the right time to meet the King to give her request. She fasted and prayed and get people to pray with her (same as Nehemiah) and then made herself look probably cute and lovely and the King saw her and called to her.

There is just so much insight to the Word of God. When the Word is being expounded, its just like you just saw something that you didn't noticed it was there all along!

Believed some people have heard terrible news recently. But the vision of God stays strong and we are still in the business of serving God and His people. And I think we can still be obsessed about building strong and biblical churches! BSB Church.

So I am going to turn this blog into a church growth and discussion blog. tag boards are gonna be added. We are going to give some guiding principles here and heavily require your input too. We can discuss about methodologies being practiced and how to apply the truth in wisdom. But I do hope no trouble makers come and create controversies etc...

Let's have a new hope in whatever we are doing for the Kingdom. Thanks.

A Cell group Church or a church with Cell group?

I went to Trumpet Praise to buy some stuffs and ended up buying some books two Saturdays ago. I bought a book which I’m quite proud of – the 50 years of Ministry by Cho Yonggi, the pastor of the largest church in the world.

This book tells alot about what he thinks/felt as he reflect upon his own ministry and what God has done through him. Though its only less than 170 pages, it contained many valuable lessons we can glean from.

Cho said that there was a point in time in ministry he was very sick. So sick he could not lead the church and work because he has been overworking for very long. At that time he was only in his late twenties. So he was thinking at home, fasting and praying how to grow the church even more and not have to overwork himself. Previously he was doing everything himself. He feels that he was anointed therefore he is the one that God has to use. But God spoke to him one day through the story of the Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses.

This is very interesting.
Exodus 18:13-27
¹³ The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. ¹⁴ When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"

¹⁵ Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. ¹⁶ Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws."

¹⁷ Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ¹⁹ Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²² Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

²⁴ Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. ²⁵ He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²⁶ They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

²⁷ Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

This became a rhema word to Cho and he started to ponder about this. He needs to select leaders to train and empower them, but he is still the head of the them as he follows Christ the Head of the church. But how do to do this? To appoint leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens?

Then he read about the church in Acts. They have 3000 converts in one single day and it was obvious to him that they gathered in homes of the people and since there is no common place to gather all the disciples together in Scripture. Therefore there is definitely some leaders over each house meeting. This is where the Home group concept was birthed out. And he envision them to multiply like cells, a living organism, therefore coined the term “cell group”

So he chosen some people as leaders and commissioned them to lead the cell groups. In the early stage, there were no sophistication about cell groups. There was no open, pour, shake, no defined programs, Cho even felt that the cell group lacked details but he really felt it was from God. So they went ahead. He charged them to simply do what a servant of God should do – pray for people (the sick and everyone with needs); teach/counsel with the Word of God; meet the people’s needs; spread and share the Gospel.

amazingly, after the implementation of the cell groups by dividing them into take charge of different parts of the city, the Gospel spread even faster and many more people came to know Jesus through the cell groups. Members will witness together, gather together to eat and share lives, then leadership is also being trained. Instead of training new pastors last time, now each cell leader has to rise up new leaders when the cell group split because of growth. The growth quickly escalate from 6000-10000. There is one point, in three years’ time, it grew from 10,000 to 100,000 and then to 300, 000.

The motivation of each cell group and thus the arithmetic that is being derived is in fact, very simple. If they set goals per six-month for example, and the leadership/relationship is strong, he can motivate each cell group to witness and win for the Lord one household. One household may consists of 4 person. So the cell groups did this (pray for people (the sick and everyone with needs); teach/counsel with the Word of God; meet the people’s needs; spread and share the Gospel) to that one household. A 1000 people for a start will soon grow to 4000 people. The next year, they became even  more bold, to witness to two households. They kept that focus clear and continued as usual. They grew exponentially.

Well, as we can see here. Cell group is like a strategy, more than a program that a church has. Its a strategy to win the unreached and engage members to group together for close relationships so they can serve in ministry together. In fact, when the momentum is up, leadership renewal is continuous, and the sight of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth is not lost, the dividing of cells cannot stop, ceteris peribus.

This is Biblical. It raises more leaders and therefore causes the church grow even stronger. When persecution comes, they have one another for support. Too often nowadays, we look at how much crowd we can gather at one place or how many people attends service. A cell group church looks at how many are committed to sharing the Gospel and Jesus in each cell. That is the statistic we should be looking at if we want to outgrow ourselves.

However I think there are some elements that need to be present so that it is a cell group church and not a church with a cell group program.
1. The vision of the church needs to be set on spreading the Gospel. 
It is ideal the cell group is target-focused by each being concentrated to an area of a city to want to spread the Gospel to that part of the city. Each cell takes one part until the whole body has a Gospel cell in it.
2. The leadership of every cell needs to be strong to carry out the goals set by the top leadership.
Definition of ‘strong’ here means the leaders have relationship with each member and is helping each member fulfill their potential.
3. It requires district leaders to help the senior pastor oversee the growth and health of a number of cell goups. This will reinforce the proximity of doctrine and vision/goals from the church. District leaders also serves to tabulate the statistics when it is too large such as Cho’s church now has 25000 cells.

Many churches do not find the cell group concept powerfully acting in their locality in terms of growth may be because they do not have these elements or vision. That is why they have a cell group that meets every week to go through a program. The cell leaders needs to have a leader that has a clear goals for them, like a “brain” that motivates and sets the goals for them to carry out within a specified timeline. On the other hand, they need to empowered by the pastor and given certain autonomy.

²⁰ Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

The vision of the whole city/country needs to be very clear as well. They are looking prospectively to Jesus 2nd coming.

Hope in ideal amidst the reality

I'm here at Elias Road to do my first new year visitation cum night cycling. I don't know should I go night cycling cause my cousin needs to go to church tomorrow morning. hmmm..

Wonder what to do when there is bad news? Give thanks.
Giving thanks is one of the or the best antidote to a sorrowful spirit. We give thanks to what God has blessed us in other areas and what His infinite wisdom has in every situation that we cannot comprehend. He is good.

When I arrived here just now, my aunt (ex Hope Chiangmai member) told me "quick... Rong En!!" I was thinking who is Rong En??? Then the innocence of little kids that can lift up the human spirit - Micah - He's on webcam!! I shall record it down here - I was greeted as "Uncle Leslie" for the first time in my life! Kids are wonderful people. If you set a good example and care for them properly as fathers and mothers, they will become useful and great people - living fulfilled lives and being responsible people who will in turn lead the next generation. Often, we judge the greatness of people by their qualifications in the academia or social standing or wealth. But God judges people who have the right hearts! People who will live and stand righteously for Him... That is what makes the society better, not just the economy. Using money as solutions is just oh so temporary. So, back to kids, I think parents are just such a great role model and playing a noble role. Most people will have the chance to take on this role as they mature. Unfortunately, we've seen beautiful kids with violent and irresponsible parents, that resulted in kids growing up and wrecking the society to a worse level.

A few sundays ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop and a bus stopped just right outside the coffeee shop. This is because gangsterism had just happened inside the bus and the driver made the decision to get them off the bus. Even after alighting, the two boys even tried to board the bus again to beat the other party.

Hey the world isn't in pretty good condition. The church isn't too. The church is made up of imperfect people. The ideal church and the glorious is only in my heart and mind so far. The reality is far from ideal. I still hope to give birth to a church/sheeps because a church has the covering of God and the possibility of true love and righteous ruling happening. (There are non-Christians that found true love too). Just like a parent knowing his/her child is not perfect, they will still wanna give birth. The instinctive basic human reason for that is to protect, to care, to nurture and see him/her do the same likewise. I see that happening similarly when we disciple others to be disciples not of myself, but disciples of Jesus Christ.

We must not give up hope in the institution God has founded no matter its being scorn by the world or being looked down upon. We need not be very gifted, but we need to be faithful til the end. The world has failed relationships, failed marriages, failed brought-ups and immorality... The church is like a hospital with a cure for all that is happening in the social arena.

Jesus likened His relationship with the church like that of marriage. So we should not lose hope in marriage or anything fundamentally good that is being instituted by God. Its not marriage at fault, its the people involved that is wrong. Its not the feelings alone but the commitment and character etc.. Its not the church that is wrong, its elements in the Bible missing or the leadership. These are human errors that the Faithful can help to prevent. The church is likened to a nation. A nation being ruled by God. All that is happening now seems to be "shedding skin" for what is to come. His Second coming and the New World.

Let's have hope, let's strive, let's desire to build ourselves and the people around us deep and rooted in the world. Be people who initiate to change the world!

Welcome to 2009! It's good looking back at lessons learnt, and having hope for the next year to be wiser and more mature. The central theme for myself for 2009 is this - walk with the Lord closely.

Come to the Father..

This morning this song was on my mind. And I thought it really apt since this year's Christmas theme is "The Gift"

Before the world began, You were on His mind.
And every tear you cry is precious in His eyes.
Because of His great love, He gave His only Son
Everything was done, So you would come.

Come to the Father
Though your gift is small
Broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all.
The power of the Word
The power of His blood
Everything was done
So you would come.

Nothing you can do could make Him love you more
And nothing that you've done could make Him close the door.
Because of His great love, He gave His only Son.
Everything was done so you would come.

Come to the Father though your gift is small
Broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all.
The power of the Word
The power of His blood
Everything was done
So you would come.

Everyone is spreading the message of love this Christmas. I am always amazed how God arranges things and events so people would come to Him. Yesterday my mum shared to me a testimony of how she met someone a few times and then decided to invite her to church. She didn't intend to as she wasn't very close to her but decided to anyway. And didn't expect that her son was actually the pastor of her church! My mum's (direct)pastor is the fellow student of that person's son, who is also a pastor. Hope I didn't get you confused... And the woman then reckoned God's will in her life that it was just so "coincidental" to come to the church even though she didn't accept her son's previous invitations...

Even my mum is evangelizing!

From the morning of monday onwards, my feet was really painful. I couldn't walk properly at all. It seemed like at the balls of my feet, there is a muscular pain within. Everytime I walk a step, I have to limp because if I walked normally, its really painful. I'm wondering why am I getting this when I've to go to a prayer meet later on and people were like telling me that when they see a foot reflexologist it might take a few days to weeks to heal.

But I was glad I still went to pray. Some Christians in the villages walked miles and they never complain. How can such a small thing stop us from going to church?

On the way back from prayer meet, Wendy was telling me she even went to church when her leg was in cast before! That's real commitment :)

The next day I went out with Karshun to get some gifts at Orchard and I am still limping haha and then someone handed me a sample of this cream "Dr Joint-Pain". I tried it before I slept and the next day it really felt so much better and by the time I was fetching my visitor, I could walk normally again! Thank God so much and thank God for the cream. Its just within 2 days!

Those with sports injuries, sisters who walk long distances and wear bad shoes, brothers who who overly exert themselves when playing sports and old folks who have joint problems may discover more about it. Free ad. The price of a 35g tube of it though, is S$22.90 at 7-11s.

This week, there's much to thank God for...

Firstly on sunday, while in camp, Andrew gave a surprising call. He was in Jobb's birthday party and he said he has someone I would love to speak to! And indeed it was true! He got my ex-shepherd on the phone and I'm still grateful to this person (my ex shepherd) for the care and discipleship he has poured upon me while I was in NYP... What brother Andrew did was really glucose-like!

Lately there were some personnels who ORD-ed. And some of them I have built friendship bonds with through the weekend stay-ins and various times together. Initially I thought I couldn't fit in but gradually relationships were formed. Met two Christian friends and I guessed we impacted each other in some ways or another. One of them wrote to me that one of our conversations actually pulled him back from backsliding. It was a morning conversation, after breakfast, i remember. And it wasn't the kind of conversation you would like to have after breakfast and yet you were being thrusted into it ya know.. But thank God good has come out of it. Another Christian friend was from FCBC, he shared his struggles openly and we encouraged one another on. I once told him honestly before that bitterness and negativity has gotten into him. At that time, he dismiss it and didn't thought much about it but after one sunday svc, he texted every Christian in our bunk that God has spoken to me about that issue and he cried and repented. I was just so overwhelmed by his courage to do that and the desire to do what is right before the Lord. We know we will still keep one in touch...

There were other friends too who were non Christians and we hope to bring them into the sheep pen haha to meet the Shepherd. Not the butcher, lol. Some of them went teary though just weeks before they will tell you they can't wait to leave. Although, we will still look forward to a better future outside. However the friends made; I never regret to made them here. The people I know, the experiences I get, the things I've learnt etc are valuable too. When I share my share my experiences and happenings, they said its just good to experience it once. However, some things you will experience many times and at the times you dislike the most, you have the go through it... One of it is camouflaging your face. No one enjoys it. I think we'd rather put on female make-up than that cream all over our faces! The feeling, its just... indescribable.

On tuesday, I just slept on my bed with a smile..
I got gold for my IPPT earlier in the morning. Its been a while since I last ran and I wasn't confident for a gold. I just ran and by the first 50m or so, I already feel my legs becoming weak. But I just prayed to God to sustain me and thank God I was sustained throughout the run. After the run, I got cramps in my right leg.

Standing broad jump - 250cm
Shuttle run - 9.6 sec
Pull ups - 12
Sit ups - 41
2.4km - 9.40sec (5 sec to miss the gold)

On tuesday, it was also the 2nd time I prayed with a brother. He is younger than me by 2 years, a sincere and simply guy... I treat him like my sheep in camp. haha We always start by sharing what we've learnt about the Word... And each time, there's something we can learn and give to one another. This is the 2nd time and God never fail to add upon us. A freethinker was curious and came over to ask a few questions. Thereafter at 9pm, he went to watch "Xiao Niang Re" on channel 8 haha. Then a Catholic came and he shared his best friend died just last week. I got shocked because he seemed normal to me for the past week. Spiritual questions popped up and we tried to answer as best and as true to the Bible as we could. We prayed for one another. Really sense and enjoy the unity in the air - protestant and catholic.

Though the way we end off the prayer is different ya know but I think God is pleased we can gather in such a manner. As we all mature together in the Word, we all become more and more united. Whether, same church, same denomination or same division of Christianity... all will come closer to the Truth though now experientially there are still differences.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Is it true that the songs that we hear when we were a new believer brought especially fond memories? I just bought a CD from online "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" first volume. It was a CD I remembered first bought by Daniel and Kar Shun at Life bookshop. At that time, I didn't know Life Bookshop was a Christian bookshop with many chain stores. Then KS and I were intrigued that "Christian also have bookshop ah". Now the book shop has closed down.

Then when they were buying this CD, the chicken that Daniel and KS bought from Cold Storage dropped outside Parkway Parade! But they hurriedly pick it up and continue eating haha. Then, we were as young as 13, lol.

When KS lent me the CD, then I started to appreciate the lyrics and grown a desire to worship God! The songs here are the first songs I heard from a Christian album!

I wonder does new believers today also remember in such detail their new experiences with the Lord and church friends together? I bet they will!

There are many intimate things that tie us closer to one another and to God. We are going to help all our new bros and sis to experience that too!

Vision

I am thinking about this thing called 'Vision' recently. I honestly feel a little inadequate or misfitted when I share about vision few saturdays ago. Is it because the vision have diluted?


As I survey the Bible and some real life examples of people who have vision, I think what I have now doesn't yet amount to a vision. Its probably a desire, probably something that it'll be fantastic to have but a vision is something you can see with your eyes, see it with your faith(Abraham believed his descendants will be numerous like the stars) and you will pour out your heart and life into it. A vision is really something more than just wanting to enlarge your group.


A vision should be something that we will be willing to pour our life into! Abraham believed God when God called him and he left his hometown immediately with his family, relatives and all his possessions!


Hebrews 11:8
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. "


Our vision should be God's vision, like Hope of God vision, which came from God and indeed the person believed. Now we have more churches than we ever thought we could have. But if our vision is really world vision, really God's vision, we will not stop here. We will not wanna compare with other churches or envy churches... We wanna run our own race! We should run to what God has been telling us all along - to build the church His way! Not just any standard will do.


When our vision is short of what God wants us to do, it will get stuck somewhere, some time. Some people's vision is only to get big numerically but they don't get the kind of picture that has the kind of quality, the kind that will erect and multiply into so many more. The kind that people love to go, not have to go, the kind that everyone is so committed to walking with God. When we hear of things such as people going to church because of programs that are fun, for girls, for friends... it just feels that they are missing out something so much more bigger! Wouldn't it be different to have a vision for your life that you can pour your whole life into it, like the man who sold everything to pursue God's Kingdom. Matthew 13:45-46


It will get stuck somewhere if people are not released and have the liberty to get into God's vision for the world! The question we have to ask is not how many we have now, we have to ask how many is going to stand with us on the last days! We should not focus on short term methods to grow and neglect the long term vision.


People must be growing spiritually and growing to walk with God. Only a community that is fully committed to God can change the world. The world sometimes scoff at the idea of church because they probably don't see any real value of the church or its because Christians are not setting the example to build the biblical church. That's why people's idea of church get distorted. We can't blame people.



If we are to seriously walk with God; simple humble and people who love one another and love God deeply, the kingdom of darkness will be afraid. We wanna obey Him fully. We are gentle yet aggressive. We wanna be a church that has a world vision worth giving your life for. I think that's just the ideal. Missions is a means. Going to missions trip is good and fantastic thing to see what God is doing. But if we don't have that vision, we are just looking at what God is doing in the world and peering at His exciting plan through a periscope.


Now what I'm describing is a dream, its a desire. We haven't reached the point where we give our lives to a vision. Some people may think this is fanatic but I think man has always been ideal. We can be as fanatic as the Bible allows us. People never think we can fly but the Wright brothers invented the airplane! If Jesus is real and He indeed gave us the Great Commission, why should we be acting like He is less. Jesus is worth living your life at the edge.


Now what I'm saying is a picture. Its probably cos there is the theoretical part and the exciting part in action. I am just like smelling what God is brewing but I'd really long for a specific vision that I can live for. As for all of us, let us continue to walk with God and love Him so much. Walk with Him faithfully and serve Him and you will find God reveal to you part by part and He will send you to fulfill that part of the vision that will change so many lives. God's world vision is too big for any one man to fulfill. Every one has a part to play. The stupid thing is to think we can do it without Him. God must be in the picture and it shouldn't be like just you doing your own thing, working your human way and try to by "brute force" trying to be fruitful. God should be real and alive in everything we do. Let us patiently and faithfully walk with Him, pray earnestly, learn the principles to serve Him and apply them. Amen.

Good Shepherd, Bad Shepherd

Am currently listening to "A Pastoral Church" mp3 which I bought in Thailand. Learnt loads about being a good shepherd and bad shepherd. At one end, is Jesus the Good shepherd and the other, bad shepherds can become like the "devil" which destroys other people. There's such a great mantle in being a good shepherd because we love God and we love His flock.

We may not be like Jesus, nor are we like some bad shepherds in the Bible who lie, deceive and leads the sheep astray by taking advantage of them. But we may be somewhere in the middle and has many weaknesses that needs to be changed so that we will not lead our sheeps astray unintentionally!

Having a shepherding system in the church posesses some risks but also many benefits. We need to screen people so that there will not have bad shepherds that destroys God's flock. I realise that if we are too used to just tell people the things to do but by not telling from the Word of God, it is easy to lead people astray. We are also to not lead them our way, but God's way. People who lead their sheeps just their own way is prone to just meet their own agenda, for own benefit and self glory. There is so much to learn from the Great Shepherd - God our shepherd!

In Psalm 23, how King David soaks himself in the arms of His shepherd..
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Let us desire to be a great example to our flocks. It may seem we fall really short of God's idea of a Good Shepherd, but with dilligence and spirit of a shepherd, I believe the shepherd's heart will flow down.

Movie, late NIGHT, Math & Relationship

During the weekdays of last week, I think quite a number of people fell sick. I was one of them, and I know a couple of friends were, Weikang was one of them too.

I went to buy the tickets with Joy for the DMM movie outing for birthday boy Weihong in the morning. Its a math problem about the tix, I thought there is gonna be 8 people in total for DMM but there's 9 actually (I didn't count myself!). But while thinking it was 8 only and 1 person wouldn't come so it ought to be 7 tix, I still wanted to order 8. But this doesn't seem to make sense, so there's a mini "commotion" happening about 7 or 8 tix at the tickets counter for a couple of seconds and when I looked up the ticketeers' face at the end, it looks kinda weird. It was funny thinking back.

But it was settled in the end, thankfully, 9 people were able to watch movie "Body of Lies" together which stars Weihong's fav actor Leonardo Dicaprio. I'm glad Guan Quan, Yiyou as well as Stephen joined us. During the show, I was actually quite impressed with both Russell and Leonardo's acting style. Leonardo's acting here reminds me of "Blood Diamond" while Russell's performance didn't drift too much away from the way he talks and acts in "A Beautiful Mind". These two are fabulous shows. "Body of Lies" however is a show that probably there's nothing much to ponder or think about after it.

The show ended late and I reached Si-Han's home at 4.15am. Thank God he woke up to open the door. But I couldn't sleep till like 5am though I yawned a few times in the bus. In the morning, we watched The Simpsons season 8 together, beginning to like this cartoon. Its rather ironic, political and sarcastic. I find it doesn't really state any values. Its like merely "laughing" at say, the condition of homosexuals, the way people treat the environment, the way people always laugh at others' mistakes and all that... creative stuff, that sets you thinking.

I think I like this sort of stuff, that's why my fav Jay Chou songs are those with a meaning or lesson behind such as the one on terracing rice fields, family violence...

Relating with people...
Yeah I do think that sometimes what I say sounds kinda "misleading" to those who may not know me. Can't give examples here because they are in Chinese!! Like someone said "everyone relates with one another differently". One skill we need to learn through our life is how to relate with people better. This dawned upon me that we may not relate or rub each other the right way all the time including your future spouse! What more our friends and sheeps and family members! But as the Bible says what is stored in our hearts will come out in our speech and I believe also in the little things we do, character is a huge part of our ability to relate with one another.

Unclean thoughts, envy, jealousy, fear, bitterness, hatred, selfishness, rebellion, lies; all these things spoils relationship. It breaks trust and it also breaks God's heart. That's why to be a love and fellowshipping church, its impossible if everyone is not moving forward in their relationship with God first. People do certain things that has "presentational" value in relating at times. However to relate long term and deeper, we need more than that.

Was just speaking with Chris a while ago, as we were discussing things, we encouraged one another to love and walk with God ever more closely. Sometimes this emphasis disappears when we get busy. When we lead people we forget to take direction from God the true Master and Leader.

So do we find that we need God? This question is for the new believers in faith, for the mature believers who are in church for some time, and for leaders (shepherds to pastors).

If we find that we need God in our life (the degree that you need water for living), what difference will our activity, our dependency on Him be?

It can be head knowledge but do we act like we need God? A symptom that we feel we do not need God as much is that we do not pray. There is a few kinds of way to respond when we go through problem and difficulty.

1. is the kind that gets discouraged and drift further away from God, they find no point seeking Him. 2. the kind that gets overly anxious and starts to seek God like mad but when problems go away, they turn mild in their relationship with Him. 3. the kind that hopes and trusts in Him, very steady, as steady as before. just remain strong but never fall. 4. still hopes and trusts in God but draw closer to God even more and from there the relationship advanced further.

This is by experience and I have responded the above 4 before. I really wanna know I need God in my life like never before. Things will be different if we are people who seeks Him like never before! We should not be Christians who just think we need God for salvation. We need God for EVERYTHING!

God is someone we gotta seek as the greatest treasure in our life!

A quote by an intellectual atheist who believed in Jesus eventually.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.
-C.S. Lewis-

There's not an option open for us to ignore Jesus as whether God or devil. There's no option (extremely speaking) that for those who come to believe in Him, to act like He is less than who He is, in the role and importance in various aspects of our lives.

Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul wanted to know God so much more, and loved Him by willing to go through so much hardship and he find it worthwhile to be "in the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings" this way.

Love over success

Not too long ago, I person I admire very much, faced a defeat in an election, that I believed meant alot to him. His life has been lived in such a way that he had always wanted to change his nation Thailand for the better.

Yesterday as I was worshipping God in service, a sister came to my mind, and God used this sister's perseverance and love for the people in the area she is serving in, to remind me of what success is.

We are called to love first and foremost. Without love, everything we do is meaningless. I'm sure with love, we wouldn't mind too much about not getting elected or appreciated. We may get disappointed. But we still get up. It may be called "Messiahnic complex" that we get so selfless as we understand from the love God shown to us.

Never Lookin Back

I have mused about this for a few days and its really refreshing to know of how single minded we should be about pursuing God and running in opposite direction of sins.

1. In terms of sin, we must not look back.
The first person that we may know (chronologically if we read the Bible) is Lot's wife.

Gen 19:26
But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

God was destroying the sinful city. The angel warned repeatedly to run and keep running without looking back but Lot's wife did not heed to this instruction and became a pillar of salt instead. (this is not salt and light btw haha).

I think God is trying to tell us not to have any second thoughts of going back to sin. We mustn't treat sin lightly. We must hate it like how God hates it.

Matthew 18:8
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

This verse is not literal or else all of Jesus' disciples would be crippled and handicapped personnels already. But this shows the intensity of how we should hate and turn away from sin. Sin must be cut off completely. We need to repent immediately.

2. In terms of vision, we must not look back
Over here, there are 2 person's life we can learn about not looking back - Paul and David.

Paul says in Pulippians 3:7-14
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


This is very on-the-go spirit! Perhaps one day when we are 50 years old or when we retire or when we are "considered successful" or have attained many things already, we may be tempted to look back and just admire our work and say to ourselves "hmmm I've achieved pretty much already its time to relax..."

If our life is just working hard to look forward to retirement, life would be so boring! My dad was just sharing to me that some of his friends retire and die within 3 years of retirement because they may be too bored. What is there to do when you retire?

In Christendom and in serving God, there's no such thing as retirement! Life will be so boring and meaningless to just want to retire. How many retired people are truly living fulfilled lives? But we never rest till we really is sitting in heaven.

Paul is able to do so much because he knows that his work is not finished as long as he is on earth. But he'd really prefer to die to meet Jesus. He will serve God and the people till he is taken away from them. What a life sold out to Jesus Christ!

Philippians 1:21-26
21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

He doesn't retire. He doesn't stop just because he's achieved so much. He could well stop serving much earlier. Paul planted more churches than all the other apostles combined! We can really learn of his servant like example that our lives is to live for Christ and if we give it all, what right do we have to decide to withdraw after our "service term" ends? There's no retirement and CPFs in the Kingdom of God.

David in 2 Samuel 24:1-17
What David did was probably a moment out of pride to just sit back and admire his achievements, but he forgot about the promises of God that it could be much more he could have witnessed than if he were to choose to count it.

This does not signify we don't do stats or count sheeps. But I think its the thought that we exalt ourselves and of pride, that is wrong. David realised that in verse 10

10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

Have you heard of what Obama did when he knew that all the national polls have placed him in a very favourable position to win? (I don't know if he will be a good president but he certainly is good at campaigning) Newspapers here used the word "rebuke" to describe his speech to his supporters that they might be complacent and lose the momentum of the campaign. They must never think they are gonna win UNLESS they finally won. No relaxing at any last moment. Excellence and dilligence till the utmost for God.

Have you ever done so much preparations for something, maybe an exam or something, and then near the end, you are brimming with confidence that you've prepared much better than most people. When the results came, you were disappointed. You could have worked harder, its within your reach and your capability. But you lost it, for a moment of pride and complacency. That is the tortoise and hare story that we've learned. If you think like that hare, someone is gonna overtake you. In the Christian context, it might be that you missed out on God's best.

There are many powerful people or leaders who left because of temporal things, which is rather foolish... Nothing should cause us to leave God or the church cause of such things.

Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Luke 9:62
62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

James Hudson Taylor III's testimony of the growth of Christianity in China. "The officials in China have gathered together and say "when we persecute them, they grow. Now we don't want to persecute them anymore" "

Haha. Cool right. Christianity grew the most during the times of persecution. It don't make sense, but the Gospel and Christianity is indeed different from other religion, which grew more under persecution. We must never stop preaching the Word, proclaiming His death and resurrection.

James H. Taylor III is the great grand son of James Hudson Taylor. Who looks like...

I find that mothers do play a really HUGE part in shaping their children's spiritual life as well as their service for God when they grow up. Hudson Taylor's story showed about father/men's insensitivity of their kids especially emotionally or what they are thinking as a child. Whereas the mother understood what was going on in young Taylor's mind when he was losing his faith in God. The mother secretly prayed... and one day Taylor received a tract explaining the meaning of the Gospel. (He had been attending church all his life without understanding!) He was thrilled and gave his life to Jesus that day after the great "revelation" being explained. This story of his has a certain similarity to GFA (Gospel For Asia) founder of how his mom prayed for one of her sons to be a missionary and indeed he became one but he also sent out and train many missionaries.

As we all know, he is the famous Christian missionary to China. He is considered one great man who opened the doors of China by being sensitive to the culture (contextualization) and also carrying out systematic plans to evangelise to the whole nation of China.

David Livingstone is a famous missionary to Africa. There are many great stories about him. He is one of the first few pioneers to do missionary work in Africa. He attended the University of Glasgow which is one I'm applying for.

"Perhaps one of the most popular national heroes of the late-nineteenth century in Victorian Britain, Livingstone had a mythic status, which operated on a number of interconnected levels: that of Protestant missionary martyr, that of working-class "rags to riches" inspirational story, that of scientific investigator and explorer, that of imperial reformer, anti-slavery crusader and advocate of commercial empire.
His fame as an explorer helped drive forward the obsession with discovering the sources of the Nile River that formed the culmination of the classic period of European geographical discovery and colonial penetration of the African continent."

I haven't read much about him so far. But here's how he looks like...

These are heroes of Christianity we can read about to let us have a greater understanding of our missionary fathers. I'm sure their expeditions will have many lessons for us to learn! There are many more people such as Charler Spurgeon or C.S. Lewis or Jim Elliot whose wife is Elisabeth Elliot and many more we can read about. We need not read books of them but we can research on the net too. But of course we should read the Bible too...the life of Abraham, David, Saul, Paul, Joseph are also great people we can learn from. Haha we not only learn from the living, we learn from the dead also. Their chapters is closed but ours is not...

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due I stand in awe of You.

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in

Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due I stand in awe of You.

Its such a beautiful song to sing in the morning haha. God is really beautiful beyond description and we can never fathom His love for us enough. And how high and high wide and how great is His love for us that He sent Jesus for us?

Was reading Economics in the library today. I am really very interested in Economics. Its the rare few academic subjects I am really willing to pour my heart and effort into. And Library 8th floor is my fav place. haha. Read about 2 out of the 3 "fathers of Economics" today. Adam Smith as well Karl Marx.

From the works, I had a glimpse of their perspective of the world and their concerns. Adam Smith has a vision of fostering competition in the economy so that the economy can be more productive in the capitalist system.

Karl Marx feels that capitalism has more shortfalls than benefits and that it will eventually collapse. From his theory of various alienations and exploitation that the worker will suffer from his capitalist employer, I think Marx' theory and observations does stem from a kind of emphathy for the average worker.

Both of them are visionary people! One had a vision of how competition and technology will lead to increase in living standards. The other found shortfalls in capitalism as it only widens the income gap between the worker and the capitalist. Now left John Maynard Keynes, whom I do not have time to read about today.

All 3 thinkers are from Europe - 1 born in Germany, 1 born in Scotland and the other born in Britain.

I am fascinated by these people's lives and works; their philosophy, affecting their perspectives and theory. Of course their theory may not apply today fully but these are the founding principles we had and its worth studying it, with a historical perspective and context in mind. If they are living in today's world, how would they think and how would they form theory? Would they thought of letting the competing forces act against each other or think of how else to distribute the wealth more equally? And doing it in a capitalist system we had in today's world. I think its one subject that really affects and can shape people's lives. I wanna plunge myself into reading of it. Can anyone guide me or give some comments or recommended reading list re Econs?

Next post I wanna talk about missionaries - David Livingstone and Hudson Taylor.

"God is communist in salvation, capitalist in reward" - Anonymous

I have a obligation to stay over in the weekends sometimes. It is like confinement yet I did nothing wrong. LOL. Anyway, its been a long time I feel, since I last went to church service. The month of September and October, I'm often away from my people. Its either overseas or overfence.

However, sometimes I do appreciate this time of "confinement" as I can use the time for myself to spend time with the Lord, or do things I might not have time to do when I'm released such as the short term missions trip report from Kuching, LOL. It gives me time to reflect, to recount and to be restored spiritually, physically etc etc. Mostly when I'm outside, I'm busy preparing this and that, meeting people, travelling on the MRT. I enjoy doing these things. I like the fast-paced at times but at times, as I'm reminded, I may be too quick and it resulted in me wanting to see things or people change almost immediately. I will see to it, to be less rushed and hustled. But I also hope everyone follow as much as possible so that together, we do not waste too much time, as with my limited time, so that together we can do something great for God in our own campus!

Here is one aspect of the missions trip I feel alot about and would really like to share about. We went to visit the famous Long Houses in Malaysia. I think me and my team have never heard of it before, we initially thought its like the houses floating on the sea ya know, but its not. Its a kind of kampung inside deep into the forests...

The Long Houses were our focal point of the trip and we were there to share the Word of God to them and pray for them etc. They are people who professed to be Christians but still has many wrong mindsets such as witchcraft and idolatry still being practiced. They were under a particular denomination but the leaders do not teach but merely hold some events or service during Christmas or Easter each year. The rest of the times, the people were mostly left to themselves.

This is really in stark contrast to what's been happening when we were there. We teach, we worship, we serve them, prayed for them and had activities with them. We danced with them on one of the nights with their local instruments and music! To me, these are one of my most treasured memories. There is an invisible embrace with one another between people from diff backgrounds, language and race.

These are people who can potentially meet together everyday to have caregroups! People who can really experience close fellowship, application of the Word and worshipping with one another together! But no one is there to lead them, the leaders got salaries from their organization, they don't know how to lead the people and they do not know how to teach or what to teach i guess. Its a boring job to be such a leader. The reason why the villagers wanna join this denomination is because of the power the denominations have. The denomination own lands and they were afraid they have no place to be buried when they die if they joined us since we do not own any lands. Its a sad case story of mindset and because of that, lost something better.

I am not saying we are better missionaries from what I described above. But I am saying leadership ought to take their roles. If we are appointed as shepherds but doesn't feed the people, Jesus will be sad.

Now, people from the foreign country may not be non-Christians all the time. It can be Christians who are not born-again, Christians who malpractice their faith or have shipwrecked their faith. Some countries such as Brazil and The Philippines have a large Christian-Catholic populations but faith is not always practiced but the situation is they profess to be Christians but seldom attend church! We have to get these people and teach to change them to be biblical people! If the Word is not taught, people will always experience much less than what the Christianity fully has to offer. God has promised us an abundant and fulfilling life ya know.

The people who are opposing the work may not always be unbelievers but may even come from within, due to structural, historical reasons whatsoever.

We can do something to missions with patience and being clear on what to teach, where to lead them and they are more than willing to follow. This is a land I really pray for a brother whom will rise up and win his village for the hope of God. In that Long House we visited, there is only one brother who is from Hope, we pray he rescue his village and give them hope, home and love. The next generation must be won!

Addicted To Missions

I've been back from Missions trip! With 4 wonderful team members - Jorris, Lemmuel, Magdalene & Lestari. Really enjoyed the funny times, the joy of serving the people, the team effort, everything! Unfortunately, Santono was unable to join us.

I have too much to blog. But its written in my own journal. I am addicted to missions. No matter how far the people are, we must move forward to find them, get them, help them. The effort must really be great. If we have powerful teams, like how Jesus trains the Twelve, we can go anywhere and we won't be afraid.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Yes we will not fear anything for we know God is with us. I find that whenever we are plunged into missions, we have no choice but to know God is there. All da time! Last night I came back alone from Kuching. Its my first time travelling alone and the airport I'm arriving at is at Johor, not Changi. There is some fears of travelling on a budget airline alone, taking a taxi from JB to customs. How I wish I could stay with the team haha. However, I have to leave. I know only God is with me now; the dependency on Him just increased. As Christians, its impossible to be alone because God is omni-present. Somehow that fact deepened into us when we are overseas.

With that greater dependency on God, that's probably why we see and feel and know God is with us every step of the way during the trip. Many hiccups occurred but we never panic. Its almost an unspoken understanding that if God is not with us, we wouldn't be here. Precisely because Jesus is so real, we need to get out of our country and fulfill His plan in as many places and people as possible! It should not be just tourism mindset to get experience of other cultures or places but its missions mindset! We should step out to evangelize in our local area, to get into missions globally, God is with you! We should not fear to teach God's Word, share testimonies witnessing or personal conversion story!

Really thank God for the trip!

Stanley 18th on year 2008

One eyes-closed, one bug-tooth. We are brothers! Happy 18th Birthday Stanley!!

Got a 24 7 duty this week. And battalion duties on saturday. I thought I could go on off on tues and wed so I might possibly teach in Maturity class. However, there was parade for a new commander of which I wasn't informed as I was then on overseas trip.

Thank God for the smooth first maturity class. Think Joy and Chris did a good job! Thank God for the mini farewell late at night for Mingxiu. Colin, Shareen, Andrew, Liyan and Huimei were there. Wish you all the best! haha

Well, hope to see my people again soon. And while I'm in camp I promised God last night, I'll work hard to be a soldier and in working for my people at the available time I have. Let's work hard to study the Word of God, writing what God has spoken to us, praying for our people and fellowshipping with God.

Hong Kong 4-8Sept!

It was a really an enjoyable and unforgettable trip to Hong Kong this time. I really enjoyed the contents of this trip, though I wasn't exactly excited about the container (the place itself). Basically Hong Kong really looks like what I see on TV shows!

It was great to know our brothers and sisters from this place. Most of them can speak English and some fluent Mandarin too. One of the things I discussed with a brother called Alex is that we need to have Cantonese praise and worship songs. This might be a way that can attract Hong Kong-ers to church to worship :)

I really enjoyed all of the teachings and worship time as well as times spent talking with the pastors and leaders. I've had the privilege to ask our Hope Manila to pastor out for dinner. We had to miss that night's worship time though.. but it was truly worth it to "suck" as much as I can from him; his spirit, his life, his ministry etc.. Also gotten a few contacts from a few other leaders. Really appreciate their open heart. I really thank God for keeping me focused and my eyes fixed on the LC for the first 3 days yupp. God really spoke alot alot, God indeed moved in the spirit of many people. God touched my heart. How much more should we be faithful to God!

Acts 26:19
"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

Paul proved himself obedient and faithful since the day he received that vision from God.

Wow, though we've only been at HK for a few days, I really miss the bros and sis' in Singapore and they were on our mind in prayers. I will think of how is caregroups, service, are they ok, leadership etc... haha but I know in such situations, we can only count on God and commit everything into His hands!

A number of people fell sick during the trip too. Yeah sometimes it is our responsibility to ensure they have rest also and not just being concerned of their fun itinerary because primarily, health is more important than the fun right? Protection. Though this is the first time for most of us to HK but there will definitely be opportunities in the future; this I'm just pretty certain.

There is a lot of work to be done - we r truly excited about the Great Commission. I've seen so many people excited about the vision and they are so serious about it. I no longer feel overly burdened anymore because all of us are determined to finish the cake, the world. There are so many more people who are going through tough times and we all rejoice because "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.." it develops our character, our skill in building the church, our faith and our victory!

A few people asked me about Scotland. It seems like whenever people ask me about my plans after NS or what is the country I have burdened for, it will always link back to Scotland as one of the options. It is an opening door for me. I have never thought of going Europe before because it is really expensive and I ain't particularly drawn to the Western society because I feel the Africans need Jesus more. However if it is really an opened door right in front of me, I think I should not choose but walk into it in obedience to the Great Commission. But who knows? God has great plans and I never say anything is confirmed until it is confirmed. We should not just go to countries we like or cultures that interest us because if we don't book any available country then we'll never be able to finish the "cake". We book the "piece of cake" of first - by prayer, by preaching. If someone goes ahead of us, praise God! If there is no one else but us, then hallelujah we r counted into this great plan of His!

Won't the vision be a piece of cake if everyone thinks this way?

And what we all ought to do is to be faithful in the little things and God will add upon us! Be a shepherd of one to three persons if you are not yet a shepherd. Be a shepherd first! Shepherd and follow up faithfully. Be dilligent and faithful in prayers of people and ministry + our own spiritual life, very important. Samuel as a leader considered it a sin to not pray for Israel! We have to pray!

With God, we can! See u all on the 14th Sept alright!